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    Wiresize PDF

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    Pourya
    This document provides guidelines for selecting appropriate wire sizes for aircraft electrical systems based on recommendations from the FAA's AC-43.13b. It includes a table listing wire gauges from 24AWG to 6AWG with their maximum current capacities and resistance per foot. It also discusses using wire sizing calculations based on voltage drop, current draw, and wire length to determine the maximum allowed wire run length according to FAA regulations. Circuits should be wired with a wire size based on the fuse rating rather than expected current draw alone.

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    Wiresize PDF

    Uploaded by

    Pourya
    28 views2 pages
    This document provides guidelines for selecting appropriate wire sizes for aircraft electrical systems based on recommendations from the FAA's AC-43.13b. It includes a table listing wire gauges from 24AWG to 6AWG with their maximum current capacities and resistance per foot. It also discusses using wire sizing calculations based on voltage drop, current draw, and wire length to determine the maximum allowed wire run length according to FAA regulations. Circuits should be wired with a wire size based on the fuse rating rather than expected current draw alone.

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    This document provides guidelines for selecting appropriate wire sizes for aircraft electrical systems based on recommendations from the FAA's AC-43.13b. It includes a table listing wire gauges from 24AWG to 6AWG with their maximum current capacities and resistance per foot. It also discusses using wire sizing calculations based on voltage drop, current draw, and wire length to determine the maximum allowed wire run length according to FAA regulations. Circuits should be wired with a wire size based on the fuse rating rather than expected current draw alone.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    28 views2 pages

    Wiresize PDF

    Uploaded by

    Pourya
    This document provides guidelines for selecting appropriate wire sizes for aircraft electrical systems based on recommendations from the FAA's AC-43.13b. It includes a table listing wire gauges from 24AWG to 6AWG with their maximum current capacities and resistance per foot. It also discusses using wire sizing calculations based on voltage drop, current draw, and wire length to determine the maximum allowed wire run length according to FAA regulations. Circuits should be wired with a wire size based on the fuse rating rather than expected current draw alone.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    of 2

    EXP BUS TECHNICAL BULLETIN Aircraft Wire Sizes

    Wire size selection for Aircraft Electrical Systems

    Many homebuilders wonder what size wire is appropriate for the various circuits in their
    aircraft. We will provide you with guidelines condensed from the FAA's AC-43.13b in
    this document. Wires are sized according the wire "gauge", abbreviated AWG. The
    larger the gauge, the smaller the wire diameter.

    Maximum current capacity


    All wire sizes have a maximum continuous current rating as given in AC43.13. This is
    the greatest amount of current that should be drawn through the wire for an extended
    length of time. Most circuits in the aircraft are continuous duty, only the starter and
    perhaps the gear and flap motors might also be considered intermittent duty. The figures
    given below are for wires bundled into harnesses, and are based on 150 degree C wire
    insulation ratings. This is typical of the wire most builders will use in their projects.

    Wire size Maximum Current Resistance


    (AWG) (amps) (ohms/ft)
    24 4 0.03 ohm/ft
    22 5 0.016 ohm/ft
    20 7 0.01 ohm/ft
    18 9 0.006 ohm/ft
    16 11 0.005 ohm/ft
    14 14 0.003 ohm/ft
    12 19 0.002 ohm/ft
    10 26 0.0012 ohm/ft
    8 57 0.0007 ohm/ft
    6 76 0.0004 ohm/ft

    Wire sizes for short wires


    The maximum current of each wire will dictate the size of most wires in the aircraft. On
    longer wires, the wire resistance may require using a larger size of wire. The purpose of
    the fuse is to prevent electrical fires by protecting the wire from overheating in the event
    of a short. The wire should be sized based on the fuse value of the circuit, not on the
    expected current draw of the device to be powered. A 3 amp output from the EXP bus
    could use any wire size 24 AWG or larger. The 9 amp landing light outputs should be
    wired with a wire of 18AWG or greater. You should not use a wire size of 20AWG on a
    9 amp output, as the wire may burn up before the fuse blows. Since the wire sizes are
    determined by the amperage of the fuse, if you are using one fuse output to power several
    small accessories, remember to size the wire for each accessory based on the fuse size,
    and not the small load by the accessory. The AC also states that wire sizes of 24 AWG
    and 26 AWG should NOT be used as single wires, although they could be used as part of
    a wire bundle. Any wires of smaller than 20 AWG should be carefully supported, as such
    small wires are very fragile and more prone to failure by vibration and mechanical stress.

    Page 1
    EXP BUS TECHNICAL BULLETIN Aircraft Wire Sizes

    Wire sizing for longer wires


    AC-43.13 also specifies a maximum allowable VOLTAGE DROP across a wire. The
    maximum allowable voltage drop according to the FAA for 14V systems is 0.5 volts. All
    wires have some resistance, and when current is drawn through a wire, there will be some
    voltage drop across the wire. It is this voltage drop that causes the wire to heat up, since
    power is equal to voltage drop times current flow (P = V * I). If the wire is long
    enough, the voltage drop across the wire will exceed 0.5V long before the maximum
    current capacity of the wire is exceeded. This voltage drop will at some point cause the
    equipment being powered to quit working reliably, just as though the battery voltage
    were too low. The formula for voltage drop on a wire is known as ohm's law

    Vdrop = I * R.

    I is normally used to symbolize current flow (in AMPS), and R is the resistance (in
    OHMS). The resistance of the wire depends on the diameter and the length of the wire.
    Each wire size in the above table shows the typical resistance per foot. We will call this
    value RPF. The formula for the Voltage drop for a wire of length L feet is:

    Vdrop = I * Rpf * L

    Since the FAA has told us not to exceed 0.5 volts of drop across the wire, we can write a
    formula for the maximum allowable wire length, if we know the Rpf value from the above
    table, and the current load (I) that will be on the wire.

    L= 1____
    2 * I * Rpf

    Using the value from the table above, let's calculate the maximum length of the 18AWG
    landing light wire above. The current is 9 amps, and the Rpf of this wire is 0.006 ohms/ft
    from the above table. Therefore the maximum length of this wire would be:

    L= ___1_______ = 9.25 feet.


    2 * 9 * 0.006

    If the distance from the switch to the landing light (allowing for wire routing) exceeds 9
    feet, 3 inches, then we should use a larger wire, probably 16 AWG. In fact 16AWG wire
    would allow a maximum length of 11 feet, while 14 AWG wire would run a maximum of
    18.5 feet. Generally the only place where these will be of any concern is in the NAV
    lights on the wing tips, and maybe the battery cable and landing light cable.

    IMPORTANT NOTICE:
    This information is given ONLY for illustration. It is the responsibility of the builder to insure that their project is safe
    and airworthy. There are many factors that make each installation unique. This information is offered without
    warranty or any representation of safety or suitability of use in any aircraft. All EXP BUS equipment is intended only
    for use by informed users on an experimental amateur built aircraft and may not be used on any aircraft manufactured
    under a production certificate issued by any governmental agency.

    Page 2

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